Casino card game

ABSTRACT

A new card game based in part on Texas Hold &#39;Em which includes several distinct features designed to make the game more exciting. More specifically, unlike Texas Hold &#39;Em (where there is a final river card dealt face up and considered a community card), in the new card game each player is dealt his own individual “river card” in a face down fashion. Accordingly, there are only four community cards (three in “the flop” and one on “the turn”) and each player has three individual cards (two draw cards and their own individual river card). Additionally, the game is played with a shorted deck of cards wherein all 2&#39;s, 3&#39;s, 4&#39;s and 5&#39;s have been removed (i.e. only 36 cards).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to games of chance. More particularly, theinvention relates to a card game of chance which allows for wagering incasino or on-line gambling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games of chance continue to enjoy widespread acceptance and have beenused in various forms from actual casino style gambling, to on-linegambling, to handheld electronics used purely for entertainmentpurposes. More specifically card games of chance such as blackjack andpoker have long enjoyed public acceptance in casino style gambling atcard tables or through automated video machines used on casino floors.These games have also been implemented through on-line gambling and/orhandheld electronic devices.

However, as time elapses and space for casino style gaming becomesavailable only at a premium on the casino floor, new and exciting gamesof chance are continually being developed. Unfortunately, mostsuccessful games of chance are based, at least in part on existing, wellknown games, with which gamblers/consumers are already familiar in orderto instill more confidence in the potential gambler.

One such game of chance which has recently risen to extreme popularityis known as “Texas Style Hold 'Em Poker” or “Texas Hold 'Em”. This pokergame is extremely popular and has been featured in live tournamentsthroughout casinos all over the world, including televised eventsinvolving both novice, professional and celebrity icons.

The goal or object of Texas Hold 'Em is to create a winning hand, usingany combination of five cards selected from a total of seven cards whichare dealt to each player in a select order. FIG. 1 illustrates the basicconcept involved in Texas Hold 'Em style poker. As shown in FIG. 1, eachplayer is initially dealt two cards face down (often referred to as the“hole cards”) 101 a,b. These initial two hole cards 101 a,b are kepthidden from all other players at all times during the play of the game.It is noted that although FIG. 1 shows the two hole cards 101 a,b forPLAYER 1 as being face up, this is for illustrative purposes only, inorder to further explain play of the game, and it is understood thatthese two hole cards 101 a,b will actually be held face down at alltimes by PLAYER 1 so that they are visible to him/her alone and nobodyelse.

All players (PLAYER 1, PLAYER 2 and PLAYER 3) then place bets, pass, orfold, based upon the likelihood of holding a winning hand. It is notedthat at this time each player only has two cards so he or she is reallybetting with this in mind, while knowing that five additional cardsremain to be dealt, as further explained herein.

After all betting has stopped, three cards are dealt face-up central tothe players such that these three cards (also known as “the flop”) 102a,b,c are considered to be community or common cards available to eachof the players. More specifically, each player still in the game at thispoint may use these three cards—i.e. the flop, in concert with the twocontained in his or her hand (the holes cards), to create a possiblewinning combination of five cards. At this point, all remaining playersthen place bets, pass, or fold, based upon the likelihood of holding awinning hand. It is noted that at this time each player has five totalcards out of seven, so he or she is really betting with this in mind,while knowing that two additional cards remain to be dealt, as furtherexplained herein.

After all betting has stopped, one additional card (referred to as “theturn”) 103 is then dealt face-up central to the players (alongside theflop) such that the turn card is also considered to be a common orcommunity card available to all remaining players. More specifically,each player still in the game at this point may use any combination ofthe flop, the turn and the two hole cards contained in his or her hand,to create a possible winning combination of five cards. Accordingly,each player now has a total of six cards from which to create a winningcombination of five cards—i.e. a winning hand. All remaining playersthen place bets, pass, or fold, based upon the likelihood of holding awinning hand. It is once again noted that at this time each player hassix total cards out of seven, so he or she is really betting with thisin mind, while knowing that one additional card remains to be dealt, asfurther explained herein.

After all betting has stopped, one final card (referred to as “theriver”) 104 is then dealt face-up central to the players (alongside theflop and the turn) as a last common or community card. Each player stillin the game at this point may use any combination of the flop, the turn,the river, and the two hole cards contained in his or her hand, tocreate a possible winning combination of five cards. More specifically,each player now has a total of seven cards from which to create awinning combination of five cards—i.e. a winning hand. At this point,however, each player has two cards—the hole cards—which remain face downand hidden such that only they are aware of their content. Accordingly,although each player can see the flop, the turn and the river (cardscommon to all players), they cannot see the two hole cards each of theother remaining players hold in their hand.

At this point, all remaining players then place bets, pass, or fold,based upon the likelihood of holding a winning hand. After all bettinghas been completed, each remaining player will expose his or her twohole cards and the player having the best possible combination of fivecards holds the winning hand and wins the pot.

As this point, each player uses his two hole cards, and the fivecommunity cards to create the best hand (5 cards total). A player canuse any combination of five, so even if one card from his pocket cardsand four of the community cards creates the best hand, it is fine. Whenall five of the cards in the community make the best hand for anyone andeveryone remaining in the game, then everyone remaining in the card game(who has not yet folded) splits the pot. This is called “the boardplays”.

Finally, it is noted that at any time during the game a player can fold,instead of betting, in order to get out of the hand. However, if aplayer folds, he loses all bets he or she has placed up to that point.

Although this Texas Hold 'Em poker game is very exciting, it is alsohighly unpredictable and somewhat unfair in that in many instances aplayer may hold a winning hand all the way up until the last card, theriver card is placed down. With the current configuration of Texas Hold'Em the success in bluffing and/or stonefacing an opponent into foldingis significantly decreased because 5 of the 7 cards available to anyplayer are dealt face up. Accordingly, many hard core poker players,whom enjoy a classic five card stud poker game (where all cards are facedown), are hesitant to play Texas Hold 'Em due to its inherentunpredictability and its lack luster in not really allowing for lastminute bluffing or stonefacing of an opponent.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have a card game which is similar toTexas Hold 'Em, a well known and universally accepted/popular game,which increases the degree of excitement available to any one player byincreasing the number of unpredictable cards thereby enhancing thechances of bluffing or stonefacing an opponent into folding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new card game which is based in part onTexas Hold 'Em but which includes several distinct, additional andinherent features designed to make the game more exciting and fun byallowing for each player to have an increased possibility of winning bybluffing and/or stonefacing the other players because the final card,the river card is kept/dealt in a turned down fashion, with each playerhaving his or her own individual river card. More specifically, andunlike Texas Hold 'Em style poker (where there is a final river cardwhich is dealt face up and considered a common or community card), inthe present invention each player is dealt his or her own individual“river card” in a face down fashion. Accordingly, there are only fourcommon cards (three in “the flop” and one on “the turn”) and each playerhas three individual cards (the two draw or hole cards and their ownindividual river card).

Additionally, although each player will attempt to create a winning handfrom the best five out of seven cards, in a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention the best combination of five must preferably includeat least two of a player's individual cards—i.e. two of the cards in thewinning hand must come from the player's draw/hole cards and/orindividual river cards, as explained in further detail hereinafter. In afirst alternative embodiment, at least three cards in the winning handmust come from a player's draw/hole cards and/or individual river cards.Otherwise, in a second alternative embodiment, at least one card in thewinning hand must come from the player's draw/hole cards and/orindividual river cards.

Finally, unlike Texas Hold 'Em style poker, in a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention uses a short stacked deck in which all the lowcards (2s, 3s, 4s and 5s) have been removed, leaving only thirty six(36) cards in the deck to be used for play. In this embodiment, the highcard in the short stacked deck, the ace (A) can serve as both a low cardor a high card on a straight or straight flush—e.g. (A, 6, 7, 8, 9)and/or (10, J, Q, K, A)

These and other features and embodiments of the invention will becomeevident from the following figures and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the basic concept involved in the conventional priorart Texas Hold 'Em style poker;

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 2 c and 2 d illustrate the basic concept involved in apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow-chart which details the flow of play inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a chart detailing a preferred order of “winninghands” in ranking of highest to lowest, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention wherein two cards in the winninghand are selected from a player's three face down cards and three cardsare selected from the common or community cards;

FIG. 5 illustrates a chart detailing a preferred order of “winninghands” in ranking of highest to lowest, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention wherein three cards in the winninghand are selected from a player's three face down cards and two cardsare selected from the common or community cards; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a chart detailing a preferred order of “winninghands” in ranking of highest to lowest, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention wherein one card in the winning handare selected from a player's three face down cards and four cards areselected from the common or community cards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As explained earlier herein, in a preferred embodiment the presentinvention is idly suited for actual live play on a card table on acasino floor, it contains features of a well known card game referred toas Texas Hold 'Em, along with several new elements/features of playdesigned to enhance the game for more exciting and challenging play. Byincluding at least some features of an already known card game, thepresent invention is likely to be more successful in attracting playersalready familiar with Texas Hold 'Em while also drawing in card playersthat may prefer a more traditional poker playing style—such as five cardstud poker.

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 2 c and 2 d illustrate the basic concept involved in apreferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2 a,there are shown four different areas of a casino style card table. In afirst area, two face down draw or hole cards 201 a,b are dealt to afirst player PLAYER 1. Similarly, in the second and third areas, twoindividual face down draw cards are also dealt to two different players,PLAYER 2 (202 a,b) and PLAYER 3 (203 a,b) respectively. It is noted thatalthough FIG. 2 a shows the two draw cards 201 a,b for PLAYER 1 as beingface up, this is for illustrative purposes only, in order to furtherexplain play of the game, and it is understood that these two draw orhole cards 201 a,b will actually be dealt and held face down at alltimes by PLAYER 1, such that the cards are actually only visible tohim/her alone and nobody else. Although this description refers to threeplayers, it is understood that in a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention actual play of the game may be played with up to nine (9)players at a time.

The fourth area of the casino style card game is referred to as the“common” or “community” area 204 where common or community cards whichmay be shared by all, as further explained hereinafter, aredealt/placed. As shown in FIG. 2 a, at the start of play, no cards aredealt or placed within this area.

After PLAYER 1, PLAYER 2 and PLAYER 3 have all been dealt their twoindividual face down draw cards, they may look at their individual cardsand place bets, pass or fold in accordance with their belief that theywill hold the winning hand at the end of the game—i.e. in the hope thathe or she will be able to create the best combination of five cards outof seven. As with conventional/traditional Texas Hold 'Em poker, it isnoted that at this time each player only has two cards so he or she isreally betting with this in mind, while knowing that five additionalcards remain to be dealt, as further explained herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2 b, once all initial betting has been completed,three cards 205 are dealt face up in the fourth area 204 of the casinostyle card game or common area. These cards 205 are referred to as theflop and are common or community cards, from which all players mayattempt to “construct” a winning hand. After the flop 205 has beendealt, all players may again place bets, pass or fold in accordance withtheir belief that they will hold the winning hand at the end of thegame. It is once again noted that at this time each player only has fivecards so he or she is really betting with this in mind, while knowingthat two additional cards remain to be dealt, as further explainedherein.

Referring now to FIG. 2 c, once all of the betting has completed, anadditional card 206, referred to as “the turn card” is then dealt faceup in the fourth or common/community area 204. Again, all four cardsfrom the community or common area are common or community cards, fromwhich all players remaining in the game may attempt to “construct” awinning hand. After the turn card 206 has been dealt, all players mayagain place bets, pass or fold in accordance with their belief that theywill hold the winning hand at the end of the game. It is noted that atthis time each player has six of seven total cards, so he or she isreally betting with this in mind, while knowing that only one additionalcard remains to be dealt, as further explained herein.

Finally, referring to FIG. 2 d, once all betting has again completed, afinal card is dealt face down separately to each player 207.Accordingly, PLAYER 1, PLAYER 2 and PLAYER 3 each has two face down drawor hole cards, which they were each dealt at the beginning of the game,and each of them now also has a third face down card 207, known as theirindividual “river card”. It is noted that although FIG. 2 d shows thetwo draw cards 201 a,b and the river card 207 for PLAYER 1 as being faceup, this is for illustrative purposes only, in order to further explainplay of the game, and it is understood that these three cars have allactually been dealt and held face down at all times by PLAYER 1, suchthat the cards are actually only visible to him/her alone and nobodyelse.

Once all players have been dealt their individual face down river card207, they may look at their individual river cards and place bets, passor fold in accordance with their belief that they will hold the winninghand at the end of the game.

Again, in a preferred embodiment, the object of the present invention isfor each player to bet (and win the pot) based upon the player's beliefthat he or she will be able to create a winning hand using the bestpossible combination of five cards choosing/using at least two cardsfrom the player's individual three face down cards (the two draw cardsand their own individual river card) and three cards from the four cardsplaced in the common area (the flop and the turn card). In analternative embodiment, players may create a winning hand using the bestpossible combination of five cards, using all three cards from theplayer's individual three face down cards (the two draw cards and theirown individual river card) and two cards from the four cards placed inthe common area (the flop and the turn card) or a player may create awinning hand using the best possible combination of five cards usingjust one card from their three face down cards and all four common areaor community cards (the flop and the turn card). Accordingly, a playermay construct or create a winning hand using any one of the followingpossible combination of number of cards from his/her own individual handand from the common or community cards:

PLAYER'S INDIVIDUAL COMMON CARDS CARDS 1 4 2 3 3 2

As explained earlier, in a preferred embodiment, the card game of thepresent invention is played using a shorted card deck in which all 2's,3's, 4's and 5's have been removed (leaving a total of 36 cards in thedeck). Additionally, in a preferred embodiment, any and all aces (A's)in the deck can also operate as both high cards and low cards (i.e.,every ace can be a high card on the end of a royal straight or royalstraight flush (i.e.—10, J, K, Q and A (e.g. non-suited and/or suited))or it can serve as the low card (a five) on the end of a low straight orlow straight flush (A, 6, 7, 8, and 9 (e.g. non-suited and/or suited)).

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow-chart which details the flow of play inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Asshown, two face down draw cards are dealt to each player 301 and aftereach player has been dealt his/her two individual face down draw cards,they may look at their individual cards and place bets, pass or fold inaccordance with their belief that they will hold the winning hand at theend of the game 302.

Once all betting has been completed, three common or community cards aredealt face up (referred to as “the flop”), from which all players mayattempt to “construct” or create a winning hand 303. After the flop hasbeen dealt, all players may again place bets, pass or fold in accordancewith their belief that they will hold the winning hand at the end of thegame 304.

Once all of the betting has completed, an additional common or communitycard, referred to as “the turn card” is then dealt face up 305. Again,all four cards from the common area are community cards are cards fromwhich all players may attempt to “construct” or “create” a winning hand.After the turn card has been dealt, all players may again place bets,pass or fold in accordance with their belief that they will hold thewinning hand at the end of the game 306.

Once all betting has again completed, a final card is dealt face down toeach individual player remaining in the game. This card is known as thatplayer's individual “river card” 307. Accordingly, unlike conventionalTexas Hold 'Em, the river card is not a community card. Instead, eachuser is dealt his or her own individual river card in a face downfashion. Once all players have been dealt their individual face downriver card, they may look at their individual river cards 308 and placebets, pass or fold in accordance with their belief that they will holdthe winning hand at the end of the game 309.

At the end of the game—i.e. once all betting has completed, allremaining players turn over their three face down cards (the two drawcards and their river card) 310 and the player holding the highest orbest possible combination of five cards (using at least two from his/herthree face down cards) and three or less from the community cards) isdeclared as having the winning hand and wins all previously placed bets311.

As mentioned earlier herein, in a preferred embodiment, the card game ofthe present invention is played using a card deck in which all 2's, 3's,4's and S's have been removed (leaving a total of 36 cards in the deck).In this embodiment, any and all aces (A's) in the deck can then operateas both high cards and low cards (i.e., every ace can be a high card onthe end of a royal straight or royal straight flush (i.e.—10, J, K, Qand A (e.g. non-suited and/or suited)) or it can serve as the low card(a five) on the end of a low straight or low straight flush (A, 6, 7, 8,and 9 (e.g. non-suited and/or suited)).

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a chart detailing a preferredorder of “winning hands” in ranking of highest to lowest, in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention when the game isplayed with two of the five cards in a winning hand coming from aplayer's individual hand and the remaining three cards coming from thecommunity or common cards.

Alternatively, FIG. 5 illustrates a chart detailing a preferred order of“winning hands” in ranking of highest to lowest, in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention when the game is playedwith three of the five cards in a winning hand coming from a player'sindividual hand and the remaining two cards coming from the community orcommon cards.

Alternatively, FIG. 6 illustrates a chart detailing a preferred order of“winning hands” in ranking of highest to lowest, in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention when the game is playedwith one of the five cards in a winning hand coming from a player'sindividual hand and the remaining four cards all coming from thecommunity or common cards.

Although the present invention is idly suited for live interactive playon a casino game floor, and has been described hereinout with referencethereto, it is understood that the card game of the present inventionmay also be implemented in other ways. For example, it may be played ina live interactive fashion over the Internet or an intranet/local areanetwork. Interactive gaming/gambling over the Internet is well known inthe art and one of ordinary skill would know how to design/implementsoftware in order to allow for playing the card game of the presentinvention over the Internet.

Alternatively, the card game of the present invention may also beimplemented in a plurality of interactive electronic machines allinterconnected via a host computer or server, much like a plurality ofelectronic blackjack or poker machines which are interconnected andallow for users to win a collective jackpot. In this embodiment, eachuser will sit at one of the interconnected machines and play the cardgame as if sitting at a casino gaming table, with a display showinghis/her individual hand, common or collective cards, betting options andthe collective pot. Users may play against each other or against thehost computer or server.

The preceding information accurately describes the major features andfunctionality of the present invention. While the description abovecontains many specifics, it should not be construed as a limitation onthe scope of the invention, but rather as an illustration ofexemplifications of particular embodiments thereof. One of ordinaryskill in the art may make many changes, modifications, and substitutionswithout necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A method for playing a card game of chance comprising: dealing twoface down draw or hole cards to each player; receiving a first round ofbets after each player has been dealt his/her two individual face downdraw cards and has had the opportunity to view his or her cards; dealingthree common or community cards face up (referred to as “the flop”),from which all players remaining in the game after the first round ofbetting may attempt to “construct” or create a winning hand; receiving asecond round of bets after the flop has been dealt; dealing anadditional common or community card face up, referred to as “the turncard”, wherein all four common or community cards are cards from whichall players remaining in the game after the second round of betting mayattempt to “construct” or “create” a winning hand; receiving a thirdround of bets after the turn card has been dealt; dealing a final cardface down to each individual player remaining in the game after thethird round of betting, known as their “river card”; receiving a finalround of bets after each player has been dealt his/her individual rivercard; and having all remaining players turn over their three face downcards (the two draw cards and their river card) and selecting the playerholding the winning hand, wherein the winning hand is the highest orbest possible combination of five cards selected from the common orcommunity cards and each player's individual face down cards (their twodraw cards and their individual river card).
 2. The method for playingthe card game of chance as in claim 1, wherein the card game of chanceis played using at least one card deck which includes only thirty-six(36) cards comprised of a normal card deck of cards having all 2's, 3s',4's and 5's removed.
 3. The method for playing the card game of chanceas in claim 2, wherein the step of selecting the player holding thehighest or best possible combination is accomplished by using at leasttwo cards from the player's three face down cards and the remainingcards from the community cards.
 4. The method for playing the card gameof chance as in claim 2, wherein the step of selecting the playerholding the highest or best possible combination is accomplished byusing one card from the player's three face down cards and all fourcommunity or common cards.
 5. The method for playing the card game ofchance as in claim 2, wherein any and all aces (A's) in the deck operateas both high cards and low cards (i.e., every ace can be a high card onthe end of a royal straight or royal straight flush, or it can serve asthe low card (a five) on the end of a low straight or low straightflush).
 6. A card game of chance comprising: two draw cards dealt facedown to each player in the game; three common or community cards(referred to as “the flop”) dealt face up, from which all players mayattempt to “construct” or create a winning hand; an additional common orcommunity card (referred to as “the turn card”) dealt face up, fromwhich all players may attempt to “construct” or “create” a winning hand;a final card (referred to as a “river card”) dealt face down to eachplayer in the game; and wherein players turn over their three face downcards (the two draw cards and their river card) and the player holdingthe highest or best possible combination of five cards from all sevencards (including their two individual draw cards, the three common flopcards, the one common turn card, and their individual river card) isselected as having the winning hand.
 7. The card game of chance as inclaim 6, wherein the card game of chance is played using at least onecard deck which includes only thirty-six (36) cards comprised of anormal card deck of cards having all 2's, 3s', 4's and 5's removed. 8.The card game of chance as in claim 7, wherein the step of the playerselected as having the winning hand holds the highest or best possiblecombination using at least two cards from the player's three face downcards and the remaining cards from the community cards.
 9. The card gameof chance as in claim 7, wherein the step of the player selected ashaving the winning hand holds the highest or best possible combinationusing one card from the player's three face down cards and all fourcommunity cards.
 10. The card game of chance as in claim 7, wherein anyand all aces (A's) in the deck operate as both high cards and low cards(i.e., every ace can be a high card on the end of a royal straight orroyal straight flush, or it can serve as the low card (a five) on theend of a low straight or low straight flush).
 11. A card game of chancebetween at least two players, each attempting to create a winning handin order to win a betting pot or pool, the card game comprising: twodraw cards dealt face down to each player; three common or communityflop cards dealt face up; one common or community turn card also dealtface up; and an individual river card dealt face down to each player,wherein each player attempts to create a winning hand comprised of thehighest or best possible combination of five cards, said winning handbeing created using at least two cards selected from the two draw cardsand the individual river card, and the remaining cards selected from theflop cards and turn card.
 12. The card game of chance as in claim 11,wherein the card game of chance is played using at least one card deckwhich includes only thirty-six (36) cards comprised of a normal deck ofcards having all 2's, 3s', 4's and 5's removed.
 13. The card game ofchance as in claim 11, wherein each player creates a winning hand usingthe highest or best possible combination of five cards by using one cardselected from the two draw cards and the individual river card, and allfour common or community cards (the three flop cards and the turn card).14. The card game of chance as in claim 11, where all aces can double asfives at the beginning of a low straight.